Jews As Freemasons.

JEWS AS FREEMASONS .

IN the eleventh volume of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum there is an elaborate article on the Masonic MSS . in the Bodleian Library , by W . J . Chetwode Crawley ; and in the Calendar of the Rawlinson MSS ., No . 30 ( page 30 ) , there is introduced the name of Mr . Daniel Delvalle . In the Daily

Post of Friday ( not Monday ) , 22 nd September 1732 , the following paragraph appeared : — " On Sunday about two in the afternoon was held a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , at the Rose Tavern , in Cheapside , where , in the presence of several Brethren of Distinction , as well Jews as Christians ,

Mr . Edward Rose was admitted of the Fraternity , by Mr . Daniel Delvalle , an eminent Jew snuff merchant , the Master , Captain Wilmot , & c , who were entertained very handsomely ; and the evening was spent in a manner not infringing on the Morality of the Christian Sabbath . "

In the Gentleman ' s Magazine , 1732 , 11 ., 9 66 , the paragraph appears thus : — "Sunday , 17 th September 1732 . At the Rose Tavern , Cheapside , was held a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , when Mr . Edward -Rose , of the said

tavern was admitted of the fraternity , by Mr . Daniel Delvalle , an eminent Jew snuff-merchant , Master , in the presence of several Brethren of distinction , both Jews and Christians , for whom was a handsome entertainment . " The Editor of the

Grub Street Journal says : "These Jews , I fear , entertained no very favourable notion of this manner of keeping the Christian Sabbath . " ( Thursday , 18 th September 1732 ) . In endeavouring to trace the word "Mason" to its origin , " your most affectionate Brother A . H . " writing in

the Grub Street Journal , No . 163 , 8 th February 1732-1733 , says that "there are some wicked persons who , I know , would derive this name from the Papish mass which I own

is of a very intricate nature , yet must I reject such a malevolent supposition if it was only because so many zealous Protestants , nay , even Jews , the constant enemies of transubstantiation , are accepted Brethren . "

" It further deserves notice , " says the writer of a letter in The Craftsman , No . 593 , 16 th April 1737 , "how artfully they have dispersed themselves in different Lodges through all parts of the Kingdom , and particularly in this great metropolis : as it were on purpose to beat up for volunteers ,

m which they not only admit Turks , Jews , Infidels , but even Jacobites , non-Jurors , " & c , & c . By a coincidence , designed or undesigned , the very next paragraph in the Daily Post states : — " Last Monday ( 18 th September 1732 ) the Jews observed in a very strict manner

their Annual Fast in memory of the destruction of Jerusalem . " If these dates are accurate—though the introduction of the " Destruction of Jerusalem " renders it doubtful—Mr . Daniel Delvalle , the Master , initiated Mr . Edward Rose on the Eve of Kippur .

This is said to be the first definite record of the admission of Hebrew Brethren : the date being 17 th September 1732 . And certainly the affair produced a little excitement , for in Fog ' s Journal , No . 204 , Saturday , 30 th September 1732 , there is the usual advertisement that " At the Oratorv the-

rnrnmof Lincolns Inn Fields near Clare Market , to-morrow . . in the evening at six , " there will be " another question whether a Jew can be a Mason , or a Mason can be made on a Sunday , caused by a letter on a late Making in Cheapside . " In the following number , 205 , of Fog ' s Journal for Saturday .

7 th October 1732 , it is announced that " At the Oratory , the corner of Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , near Clare Market , on Wednesday ( nth October 1732 ) the case of the Jew Masons ( will be ) fully cleared , and fthe affair of the Bricklayers ' Lodge from Barbican to the Rose in Cheapside discussed . "

The Oratory was the scene of Orator Henley ' s performances . In the MSS . Department of the British Museum there are more than forty volumes of Orator Henley ' s sermons and lectures , in his own handwriting , extending from 1729 to 1756 ; but diligent search has hitherto failed to discover the

oration about Jew Masons . The Rose Lodge , or the " Lodge at the Rose , " held its first meeting on 27 th December 173 2 , and the name of Daniel Delvalle stands twenty-ninth on the list of members ; the " Rose " was held previously " at the Bricklayers'Arms in Barbican "it having

been originally constituted 26 th January 1730 , the Master being a snuff merchant , and Mr . James Carrington , who officiated as Junior Warden , being a tobacco merchant . According to the Gentleman's Magazine , xxxviii ., 447 Tames

, Carrington , Esq ., father to the Rev . Mr . Carrington , Chancellor of Exeter , died on 6 th September 1768 . Daniel Delvalle appears to have been Master of the Rose Lodge up to 8 th July 1734 , when he settled accounts , from which

Jews As Freemasons.

accounts it was shown that the Lodge was in debt to its Master in the sum of - £ 15 19 s 8 d . Thus far Daniel Delvalle ; it remains yet to be discovered when and in which Lodge he was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry . " Mr . Delvalle , a Jew merchant , died in Bunhilfields , August I 1737 . " { Gentleman ' s Magazine , vii . 514 ) .

Some difference of opinion exists as to when Jews first entered the ranks of speculative Masonry . In 1725 the Register contains the names of Israel Segalas , of Solomon ' s Temple Lodge , Hemming's Row , and Nicholas Abraham , of the Golden Lyon Lodge , Dean Street . Iii 1730-2 the

Register contains names of members of No . 8 4 at Daniel's Coffee House , Lombard Street , viz ., Solomon Mountford , Solomon Mendez , Abraham Ximinez , Jacob Alvares , Isaac Baruch , and Abraham de Medina . Grand Stewards 1738-9 , Moses Mendez and Samuel Lowman .

With regard to a Lodge having been founded and " started " by Jews , the earliest instance given (*) is Lebeck's Head Lodge , constituted 24 th August 1759 , for which there were twenty-three petitioners , thirteen of whom have " unmistakably Jewish names . " And as to nine , these are

they : "Founders , Initiates , Officers : —Jacub Moses , Lazars Levy , Edward Morley , Solomon Levy , Jacub Arons , Senur Warden , Yoel ; Secatary , Henry Lyon ; Tresher ( Treasurer ) , Ross ; Past Master , Moses Levy . " But reaching 1759 brings the student within a short distance of the date of the

foundation of the Lodge known as the " Joppa , " which still flourishes . Many years since an ingenious gentleman , anxious to connect Jews with Freemasonry at a remote period , endeavoured to prove that an early Lodge , if not the very first Lodge , was held by Moses . —MATTHIAS LEVY , in "Jewish Chronicle . "

(*) Mr . Henry Sadler , " Masonic Facts and Fictions , " London , 1887 .

The Grand Masters Mark Lodge of Instruction will resume its working on the 7 th proximo , and meetings will be held on the first and third Fridays of the winter months , at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , at 6 p . m . sharp , for the rehearsal of the ceremonies of

advancement and installation . The Lodge is presided over by Bro . Dr . Reynolds Green P . G . D . as Preceptor , with Bro . C . F . Matier P . G . W . Mark Grand Secretary as Treasurer , and Bro . John Smith P . G . Steward as Secretary . Mark clothing is worn at the meetings .

Votes of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys are requested for Arthur James Thos . Holdom , aged 7 | years , son of the late Bro . George Thomas Holdom P . M . of the Lodge of St . John , No . 1306 , and P . Z . of the Lily Chapter of Richmond , No . 820 . Bro . Holdom was a commercial

traveller , representing an eminent London firm . He was taken ill when on one of his journeys to Norwich ; he underwent a serious operation in Norwich Hospital , and was not allowed by the doctors to return to London , therefore his home had to be broken up and transferred to Norwich , and after a long and painful illness he died in the above-mentioned

city on 2 nd August 1895 , leaving his wife and four children totally unprovided for . Bro . Holdom was a Life Governor of the R . M . B . I ., and had rendered assistance to other Masonic Institutions on many occasions . The case is strongly recommended by a large number of the best known Masons

of the East End of London , headed by the veteran Bro . C . Lacey P . M . and P . 2 . 174 P . G . S . D . Herts ., of Exmouth Street , Stepney , E . We had the pleasure of knowing the late Bro . Holdom for many years , and shall be personally

obliged to any of our readers who can spare a few votes for either of the Institutions on behalf of his orphan son . The proxies may be sent to Bro , Charles Lacey , or to the widow , Mrs . Holdom , Hawthorns , Prince of Wales Road , Cromer .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE funeral of the late Bro . T . N . Richardson S . D . of the Borough Lodge , No . 424 , took place at Gateshead Cemetery on the 13 th . The deceased was held in high esteem by the members of the Fraternity , and a large

number were present at the interment . The burial service was impressively read by the Rev . F . L . Cope , vicar of St . Cuthbert ' s and Chaplain of the Borough Lodge , and at the conclusion the usual beautiful Masonic hymns were sung .